Don’t let RoPA qualifications bar raw talent from estate agency, warns expert
Industry consultant Mike Day says industry must be careful how it introduces minimum qualifications or risk alienating talent.
A leading estate agency figure has warned that RoPA’s proposed introduction of mandatory qualifications within the industry without excluding the many brilliant agents who don’t have letter after their name.
The comments have been made by industry consultant, business mentor and former Connells director Mike Day of Integra Property Services during a video interview with Chris Watkins.
Day says he is all for qualifications but is more interested in ensuring they help boost agent professionalism, integrity and competency within the industry than being a means to and end themselves.
“A lot of the best people I know in the industry and who are the most successful haven’t got a qualification at all,” he says.
“We have to be very careful that we don’t end up creating too many barriers to entry.”
As Day points out, the Government’s previous attempt to bring minimum standards for the industry, Section 22 of the 1979 Estate Agents Act, which has never been introduced or implemented.
“Successive governments have preferred competition over competency to increase standards,” he says.
“I believe we already have enough legislation in the industry to raise standards in the industry – it’s better enforcement of those regulations and laws which is needed.”
“I agree that qualifications would ensure agents self-police standards, but I am concerned that it will become wrapped up in too much red tape and got in the way of bringing good people into the industry.”
Mike Day’s comment come as Propertymark this week re-stated its commitment to the introduction of minimum qualifications for agents.
Read Propertymark’s guide to the Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications.
At Able Agent we have seen loads of interest in our “Getting into Property” course and also our online training / L 3 qualifications from non industry and recent recruits – one of the benefits of a good engaging online training program is that it can support non industry talent – who often leave without the right training or support and gives them a structure to train to and a recognition when they complete. Our CePAP qualification is a very practical qualification so really supports this form of staff member/ recruit – where competitor qualifications are written in a harder to access style ours feels familiar and is written in the language and style the industry uses.